O - Authors from A to Z Challenge

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by 

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  For more info, click the photo!

How I'm participating in the challenge:

I am trying to highlight at least three authors (YA or otherwise) per letter, some current favorites, others future favorites. If I cannot come up with three, I will substitute favorite books that start with the letter of that day. If that doesn't work, then just for fun I am going to list songs that start with the letter of that day. And if that doesn't work, well, it will be a surprise!

Today's Letter: O

Tsugumi Ohba

This may or may not be the real name of the author of one of my favorite mangas, Death Note, but I don't care.  If you've never read or seen Death Note (it was on Adult Swim for a time) you are missing out on one of the coolest, craziest story lines out there.  The characters are all intriguing and there is no shortage of drama (and death) as Ohba weaves a Shakespearean like tragedy that builds and builds until the tense, spectacular ending.  I literally just realized it is kind of the Japanese version of the Scottish play (not so much in a literal sense, but in a thematic sense).  Also, there is some supernatural stuff that is tricky and weird and the death demons are awesome looking (and love apples).  There is also the added bonus of one of my favorite ever manga characters, a detective-esque genius with a penchant for sweets who simply goes by the name L. And as for me and Death Note, L=Love!

Jana G. Oliver (Future Favorite)

I took a little peek into Oliver's The Demon Trapper's Daughter and was seriously hooked.  I love fantasy (does this count as urban fantasy?  idk.) and I love when creatures and magic and things of that ilk pop up to create havoc in the real world.  The heroine, Riley, had a distinctive voice and an unusual job, and I can't wait to see what she has to do.  This is a series, too, so fun upon fun!

Anne Osterlund (Future Favorite)

It may seem weird to say this, but I'm big on princess stories.  And not just the rags-to-riches kind (or the "I didn't know I was a princess but it sure is harder than it looks" kind), but the "I'm an expert at being a princess and I have to survive it while still trying to be an actual human being" kind.  This probably started with Shannon Hale's The Goose Girl, and I'm hoping to continue it with Osterlund's Aurelia.  I liked the protagonist from the get go, and I love me some court intrigue and (duh) romantic princes (and tough but sweet stable boys/bodyguards/whatever).  And this is yet another series.  Yay!